About
Nicola Heneghan is Physiotherapy Lecturer and Programme Leader MSc Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy
Nicola has worked as a manipulative physiotherapist in the UK and Canada in a variety of settings. Since completion of her MSc she has developed an interest in the musculoskeletal changes in COPD. She is in her final year of doctoral studies which has involved the development of a motion analysis approach for the thoracic spine and an evaluation of the musculoskeletal changes in COPD.
Nicola is also the Programme Leader for the MSc Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy programme and is committed to the development of manual therapists through PG study. The programme attracts students from many countries, with its excellent reputation for the development of manual therapists. Nicola is on the Manipulative Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP) Committee for Education and Approval; this committee monitors educational standards of all courses leading to membership of the MACP within the UK.
Qualifications
Lecturer in Physiotherapy
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MSc Neuromusculoskeletal Physiotherapy 1998
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PG Cert HE 2001
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Member of the Manipulative Association of Chartered Physiotherapists 1998
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Grad Dip Phys MCSP 1988
Biography
Nicola qualified in 1998 as a Chartered Physiotherapist and spent the next few years in clinical practice consolidating her knowledge and skills in the fields of respiratory and musculoskeletal physiotherapy. Having spent time working in the UK and Canada she set up a very successful Private Practice in the Lakes District.
In 1997 Nicola returned to University to complete her MSc at University College London, where she was awarded the Stanmore Prize for her research exploring the relationship between thoracic motion and breathing.
In 2000 Nicola took up a Senior lecturers post at Coventry University, where she completed her PG Cert HE as well as developed her teaching skills.
Nicola moved to University of Birmingham in 2004 to continue her professional development. In addition to her teaching commitments on the MSc Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy programme, Nicola was awarded a studentship in 2005 to pursue her research work into the musculoskeletal changes in COPD. Throughout her doctoral studies Nicola has been lecturing on the subject of musculoskeletal changes in dysfunctional breathing nationally and is due to present more of her research at the World Confederation for Physical Therapists in June 2011.
Nicola is now working with other researchers in the field of COPD (Respiratory Epidemiology Group) within the School of Health and Population Sciences and plans to develop her work in this field on completion of her doctorate this year.
Teaching
Postgraduate supervision
Nicola supervises MSc students in a range of topic areas within the field of manipulative/manual physiotherapy as well as the fields of
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Role of Mental Imagery in Rehabilitation
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Peripheral nerve motion using ultrasound imaging
Research
RESEARCH THEMES
My research is founded on 15 years of clinical experience and teaching in the field of musculoskeletal physiotherapy and respiratory dysfunction. I have held teaching posts at University College London, Coventry University and am regularly invited to speak on the subject of musculoskeletal changes in patients with respiratory dysfunction. I am currently in the final year of my PhD and have so far published 2 papers from my PhD and have one pending.
RESEARCH ACTIVITY
I have currently 3 areas of collaborative research activity in addition to my PhD studies, these include
1. Respiratory Epidemiology Group, with staff from Public Health.
Successful NIHR HTA bid (2010) Jordan RE, Jolly K, Moore D, Adab P, Fitzmaurice D, Ayres J, Garrod R, Jowett S, Riley R, Heneghan N. Supported self-management for patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): an evidence synthesis and economic analysis. £241,472 (June 2010).
Submitted bid as PI to CSP Charitable Trust (Home-based exercise for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): the Birmingham Rehabilitation Uptake Maximisation study for COPD (BRUM-COPD) £229,568 (August 2010)
Submitted abstract for WCPT Conference in 2011 (Amsterdam)
2. Whiplash Associated Disorder, with Alison Rushton and Chris Wright, Nursing and Physiotherapy
A number of studies (n=~8) have now been completed using US imaging to evaluate peripheral nerve motion, with publications pending
Systematic Review in process linked to management in WAD. Due for completion Jan/Feb 2011
3. Collaboration with Dr F Xaviar-Li, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences
Collaboration on PhD project (Amy Scafe) looking at hip flexibility and running performance in athletes
Submitted grant for The Cutting Edge 2010-11. Determination of bike fitting parameters. Life and Environmental Sciences: (£2900) (unsuccessful)
Other activities
CLINICAL ACTIVITY / NHS AFFILIATION
Contribute to COPD National Strategy consultation as part of Respiratory Epidemiology Group (2010)
RESPONSIBILITIES
Committee representation:
Member of PGT Committee, (HAPS, CMDS)
Review team for the Strategy Review and Enhancement process of College PG Programmes (2010)
External Professional Activity:
National Physiotherapy Research Network; Birmingham University co-representative.
Manipulative Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP); Co-opted member to the Committee for Education and Approval
Reviewer
‘Manual Therapy’
‘Chiropractic and Osteopathy’
World Confederation of Physical Therapists (WCPT) Conference; Vancouver 2008; Amsterdam 2011
External Examiner:
MSc Advanced Physiotherapy, University of Hertfordshire
Publications
Heneghan NR, Balanos GM. (2010) Soft tissue artefact in the thoracic spine during axial rotation and arm elevation using ultrasound imaging: a descriptive study. Manual Therapy 15(6):599-602
Heneghan NR, Hall A, Hollands M, Balanos GM (2009) Stability and intra-tester reliability of an in vivo measurement of thoracic axial rotation using an innovative methodology. Manual Therapy 14(4):452-455
van Vliet PM, Heneghan NR (2006) Motor control and the management of musculoskeletal dysfunction. Manual Therapy. 11(3): 208-213
Heneghan N (2005) The influence of gender on skeletal muscle endurance capacity. Physical Therapy Reviews. 10(3): 171-178.
Presentations
Heneghan NR. (2009) Musculoskeletal physiotherapy skills; an evidence informed approach to the management of patients with dysfunctional breathing. Physiotherapy First Conference. Nottingham